The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-07-15
PEDRO'S PEONS.
An Adventure With the ''Wild Man
Of the Mountains"

''You are not afraid of getting lostP''
When Dick Vincent asked this ques-
ton Miss Lucy Shelton smiled scorn-
fully.
s'All we have to do is to keep Pogalos
Peak in sight" she replied. ''With
such landmark it is impossible for us
to lose our way
Tourists, of course. One glance at
the two settled that: Their sketch
books explained the object of their
early morning walk.
1t was too early for the guests at
Prospect Cottage to be astir. These
two were lovers of nature. They were
in search of the picturesque, and they
were determined to keep their pencils
busy during their week in the Sierras.
81 am in a reckless mood to-day"
said Miss Lucy. Let us seek untried
fields. 1 don't believe that the average
California tourist finds a hundredth
part of the beauties hidden in these
canyons and Valleys
Young Vincent did not wait to be
persuaded. A pretty girl and ramble
in the heart of the Sierras were temp
tations not to be resisted.
"a late breakfast will not matter, ,"
he remarked. eve ought to make our
way back in three or four hours,
The first blush of gorgeous sunrise
was sending wave after wave of color
over the white summit of Pogalos Peak
as the pair turned into rocky defile
leading westward. Birds of gay plu-
mage fitted about among the trees, and
Miss Lucy could not restrain an occa-
sional exclamation of delight as the
novel panorama was unfolded before
her
An hour orso of this aimless strolling
brought the pedestrians to a winding
pathway evidently leading downward
into some hidden valley.
''It is worth all the trouble and the
risk, :" said Vincent, when they found
themselves after difficult descent in
a lovely little valley of perhaps a score
of acres.
The locality was walled in by precip-
itous mountains on every side, and Vim
cent understood at once that the path
which they had followed was doubtless
the only means of communication with
the outside world.
'What does this mean?" he cried.
The valley bore evidences of cultiva-
ton. Here and there were to be seen
little patches of corn, beans and other
vegetables
Vincent and Miss Lucy looked at each
other with vague uneasiness.
1--WE are too far from Prospect Cot
tage,' the young man suggested.
''And we can not see Pogalos Peak -
replied the young lady, nervOusly.
''In a wild country like this" con-
tinued her companion, ''we can not be
too careful. Some years ago there
were some very desperate outlaws in
these mountains. This valley is evi-
IDENTIFY inhabited by some person who
| desires to hide himself. If we have
accidentally intruded he will not like
it."
"Waugh!''
''Merciful heavensr' and Miss Lucy
dropped her sketch book.
Vincent faced about and saw a gigan'
tic fellow with long hair and tangled
whiskers standing at the mouth of the
narrow pathway leading out of the val
| ley. The man looked like a Mexican
| or a half-breed. He was clad in tuniC
of bear skin fastened by a girdle around
his waist His face and arms were of &
coppery red, and his big black eyes
blazed with ferocious glare. Wors
of all, he held musket on straight
line with the heads of his astonishec
visitors.
81 beg your pardon, Colonel, saiC
Vincent, with quaver in his voice
"but-don't shoot. old feIlow-we have
lost our way, you know, and want t.
get back to Prospect Cottage"
yah! Yah''
''What does he sayP" whispered Mis-
Lucy.
"Come, now," appealed her escort
"this won't do. Lower your gun. W.
are going back
He took the frightened girl by thu
arm and started to leave the valley.
'.Me shoot! StopP' Numbered thu
giant.
Vincent was unarmed. He had ever
left his pocket knife in his room. TIL,
ruffian would have to be humored.
Fine place." said the young man
airily, "but you must get tired living
here alone. If you win guide us t.
Prospect Cottage I will pay you well
and give you some tobacco and a bottle
of brandy"
walk, or me shoot!' The horrible
man seemed impatient, and pointed t.
the interior of the valley.
1--WE must obey" said Miss Lucy.
There was no help for it, and the un
fortunates allowed themselves to bt
marched at the point of the musket t.
the corn patch. Here, not much e
their surprise. they found a rude cabin
But they were not invited in. Thei
captor had other plans.
Keeping his eye upon them all tn
time, the Wild man hunted for a coupl
of heavy and clumsy hoes. When h
found them he motioned to the prison
ers.
Work. he growled, "old Pedr'
peon himself once. Now poems worl
for him. Work or me shootr'
sI'n die frsti'' shouted Vincent
''Oh. for my sakef' screamed Mis-
Lucy. Don't let that horrid monste
kin you. What would become o
meP''
Tnraged as Vincent was, he wa